Professor Christine Bigby

Research Program Leader, Deputy Chair Academic Board

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Allied Health
Department of Social Work and Social Policy

HS2-549, Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

BA (hons) MSW, PHD

Membership of professional Associations

AASW, IASSID, ASID

Area of study

Social Work

Brief Profile

 Professor Christine Bigby has an established national and international reputation for her research on the social inclusion of adults with intellectual disability. The focus of her work is policy issues, program effectiveness and front line practice that supports quality of life outcomes for people with intellectual disability. Her current ARC and other grants are examining the effectiveness of supported accommodation services, the nature and meaning of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability, the history of self advocacy, and the capacity of disability and mainstream organisations to support active and healthy aging for people with a lifelong disability. She is a Fellow of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability  and Chair of the IASSID Special Interest Group on Ageing and Intellectual Disability, a National Board member of ASID – Research to Practice, and Editor of Australian Social Work. She convenes an annual Round Table on Intellectual Disability Policy at LaTrobe. She has published 5 books and more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles.

In March 2012 Professor Bigby was elected Deputy Chair of Academic Board.  

NEW Publication. Final report of the evaluation of the closure of Kew Residential Services.   

Bigby, C., Cooper., B & Reid.K. (2012).Making Life Good in the Community : measures of resident outcomes and staff perceptions of the move from an institution. Department of Human Servcies

New Publication - Resource about Aging for For Group Homes

NEW  Publication Proceedings of the 6th (2011) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.

Research interests

Consumer participation

- Self advocacy and participation of service users with intellectual disability

Disability

- Intellectual Disability Policy, Practice and Programs

Healthy Ageing

- Ageing of people with life long disability

Social policy

- Disability Policy, Deinstitutionalisation

Teaching Units

 SWP5FPB Social Work Fields of Practice B

SWP5FPC Social Work Fields of Practice C

Consulting

Disability policy, programs and practice

Recent Publications

Books

Bigby, C & Frawley (2010). Social work and intellectual disability: Working for change. London: Palgrave MacMillan -  Flyer [PDF 259KB]

Clement, T. & Bigby, C. (2010). Group Homes for People with Intellectual Disabilities Encouraging Inclusion and Participation. London, Jessica Kingsley. - Flyer [PDF 366KB]

Bigby, C., Fyffe, C., Ozanne, E. (2007) Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners.  London: Jessica Kingsley

Bigby, C. (2004). Aging with a lifelong disability: Policy, program and practice issues for professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Bigby, C. (2000). Moving on without parents: Planning, transitions and sources of support for older adults with intellectual disabilities. New South Wales/ Baltimore: Mclennan+Petty/ P H Brookes.

Book Chapters

Bigby, C. ( 2012). Piecing together the experiences of older people with intellectual disability: Qualitative research ideas. In M. Leontowitsch, Researching later life and aging. London: Palgrave

Bigby, C. (2012). I hope he dies before me. Unravelling debates about aging with intellectual disability. In, Watson N, Roulstone A and Thomas C (eds).  Routledge Companion to Disability Studies. London, Routledge

Bigby, C. (2010). Growing old: Adapting to change and maintaining a sense of belonging, continuity and purpose. In Grant, G., Richardson, M & Murphy, J. Learning Disability: A lifecycle approach to valuing people (445-458)  Second Edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Bigby, C (2009). Intellectual Disability. In  H Cleak (Ed). Assessment and reporting writing for human service professionals (pp. 85-98). Cengage: Melbourne.  

Bowers, B., Bigby, C., Webber, R. (2009). Intellectual disability and ageing . In Nay, R & Garrat, S., Iinterdisciplinary care of older people: issues and innovation (pp. 60-77). Sydney: Elsevier

Swain, P., & Bigby, C. (2009). Social security and welfare rights. In P. Swain. In the shadow of the law (339-359). Sydney: Federation Press

Bigby, C. (2007). Case management with people with intellectual disability; Purpose, tensions, challenges. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp. 29-47), London: Jessica Kingsley

Burgen, B & Bigby, C (2007). The importance of friendships for young people with intellectual disability In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp.208-214). London: Jessica Kingsley

Bigby, C. (2007). Issues of middle age and beyond for people with intellectual disability and their families. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioner (pp.215-232). London: Jessica Kingsley

Bigby, C., Fyffe, C., Ozanne, E. (2007). Introduction: Contexts, structures and processes of case management. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp.17-27). London: Jessica Kingsley

Bigby, C. (2007). Aging with an intellectual disability. In I. Brown & M. Percy (Eds.), A comprehensive guide to intellectual and developmental disabilities (pp. 607-616). Baltimore: Brookes Publishing Company.

Bigby , C (2005). The impact of policy tensions and organizational demands on the process of moving out of an institution. In. K. Johnson & Rannveig Traustadóttir, In and out of institutions (117-129). London: Jessica Kingsley.

Bigby, C. (2005). Growing old: Adapting to change and maintaining a sense of belonging, continuity and purpose. In Grant, G., Richardson, M & Murphy, J. Learning Disability: A lifecycle approach to valuing people (663-684). Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Refereed Journal Articles

Bigby, C., Frawley, P., Ramcharan, P. (in press)  Conceptualising inclusive research with people with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability.

Bigby, C., Frawley, P., Ramcharan, P. (in press). A collaborative group a  method of inclusive research: 'That’s how you get things done by working. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability

Mansell., J., Beadle-Brown, J., & Bigby, C. (in press) Implementation of active support in Victoria, Australia: an exploratory study. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

Bigby, C., (in press). Social Inclusion and People with Challenging Behavior: A Systematic Review. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability.  

Clement, T., & Bigby, C (in press). Ethical challenges in researching in group homes for people with severe learning difficulties: Shifting the balance of power. Disability and Society

Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (in press).  A model of processes that underpin positive relationships for adults with severe intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability  

Bigby, C., Knox, M., Beadle-Brown, J., Clement, T., Mansell., J (in press) Uncovering dimensions of culture in underperforming group homes for people with severe intellectual disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2012). Competencies of frontline managers of supported accommodation services: Issues for practice and future research. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37, 131-140.

Carling-Jenkins, R., Torr, J., Iacono, T, Bigby, C. (2012) Supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease in aged care and family environments. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 37,1,1-23

Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (2012) Social interaction with adults with severe intellectual disability: Having fun and hanging out. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability, 25,4, 329-341 

Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (2011) Creating meaningful theory: Learning through observing everyday interactions Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 27, 4, 267-278

Bigby, C., & Vizel, I (2011) Encounter as a dimension of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability: Beyond and between community presence and participation. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36, 4

Bigby, C., Wilson, N., Balandin, S., Stancliffe, R. (2011). Disconnected Expectations: Staff, family and supported employee perspectives about retirement. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36, 3, 167-174 

Bigby, C., Bowers, B., & Webber, R. (2011). Planning and decision making about the future care of older group home residents and transition to residential aged care. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 55,8, 777-789   Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2011) Inclusion in political and public life: The experiences of people with intellectual disability on government disability advisory bodies in Australia. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36, 1, 27-38

Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2011). The development and utility of a program theory: Lessons from an evaluation of a reputed exemplary residential support service for adults with severe intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in Victoria, Australia. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability, 24,6 554-565  

Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2011) Inclusion in political and public life: The experiences of people with intellectual disability on government disability advisory bodies in Australia. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36, 1, 27-38  

Wilson, N. J., Stancliffe, R. J., Bigby, C., Balandin, S., & Craig, D. (2010). The potential for active mentoring to support a positive transition into retirement for older adults with a lifelong disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 211-214  

Webber, R., Bowers, B., Bigby, C. (2010). Hospital experiences of older people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 155-164  

Bigby, C., & Atkinson, D. (2010). Written out of history: Invisible women in intellectual disability social work. Australian Social Work, 63, 4-17

Bigby, C. (2010). A five country comparative review of accommodation support policies for older people with intellectual disability. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability. 7, 3-15

Johhson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T. (2010). The pearl in the middle. A case study of social interactions with an individual with a severe intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 175-186

Johnson, H; Douglas, J; Bigby, C; Iacono, T (2009). Maximising community inclusion through mainstream communication services for adults with severe disabilities. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 11, 80-90.

Bigby, C., & Knox, M. (2009) ‘I want to see the Queen’, The service experiences of older adults with intellectual disability. Australian Social Work 62, 2, 216-231 

Bigby, C., Clement, T., Mansell, J., Beadle-Brown, J. (2009 ) ‘It’s pretty hard with our ones, they can’t talk, the more able bodied can participate’: Staff attitudes about the applicability of disability policies to people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 54, 4, 363-376

Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2009) Breaking out of a distinct social space: Reflections on supporting community participation for people with severe and profound intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability, 22, 264-275

Bigby, C., & Fyffe, C. (2009) A position statement on housing and support for people with intellectual disability and high, complex or changing needs. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 34, 96-100

Buys., L., Boulton-Lewis, G., Tedman-Jones, J., Edwards, H., Knox, M., Bigby, C. (2008). Issues of active ageing: Perceptions of older people with lifelong intellectual disability.  Australasian Journal of Ageing 27 (2) 67-71. 

Bigby, C., Webber., R., McKenzie-Green, B., Bowes., B (2008). A survey of people with intellectual disabilities living in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 52, 404-414  

Bigby, C. (2008). Known well by no one. Trends of the informal social networks of people with intellectual disability five years after moving to the community. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 33, (2) 148-157.   

Bigby, C. (2008). Beset by obstacles: A review of Australian policy development to support aging in place for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 33 (1), 1-11.

Knox, M & Bigby, C. (2007). Moving towards midlife care as negotiated family business: Accounts of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education 54, 3

Bigby , C. (2007). The challenge of implementing state disability policy to achieve second generation rights for people with disabilities. Just Policy, 43, 68-75

Bigby, C., & Fyffe, C. (2006) Tensions between institutional closure and deinstitutionalization: What can be learned from Victoria’s institutional redevelopment. Disability and Society, 21, 6, 567 - 581

Bigby, C (2006). Shifting models of welfare: Issues in the relocation from an institution and the organisation of community living. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability, 3, 147-154.

See CV for earlier publications

Resume

Download Resume

Older Publications

Government Reports

History of Kew Cottages interactive website

Proceedings of the 6th (2011) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.

Proceedings of the 5th (2010) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy

Proceedings of the 4th (2009) Annual Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy

Proceedings of the 3rd (2008) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy

Proceedings of the 2nd (2007) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy

Proceedings of the 1st (2006) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy

Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2009). An evaluation of a reputed exemplary residential support service for people with severe intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Office of the Senior Practitioner, Melbourne.

Reports from the Making Life Good Project

Other Deinstitutionalisation studies

Reports on Aging and Life Long Disability 

Research projects

Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2012) ‘Adopting a mainstream approach: Effective violence and abuse prevention strategies for people with an intellectual disability. Vic Health  2011 Innovation Grant. ($200,000)

Bigby, C., & Frawley, P (2012) ‘Cultures of respect in group homes’  Disability Donations Trust. ($50,000)

Bigby, C., Vizel, I., Mansell, J & Beadle Brown, J. Understanding 'encounter' as a dimension of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability".  ARC Linkage 2011-2013

Webber, R., Bigby,C, Bowers, B. Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability ARC Linkage 2010-2012  

Bigby, C & Ramcharan, P. Self Advocacy and Inclusion: What can be learned from Speaking Up. ARC Linkage $177,000 plus $135,000 cash industry partners 2009-2012 

Bigby, C., Beadle-Brown, J. Mansell., J. Understanding organisational factors that impact on person centred practice and quality of life outcomes for residents with complex needs. DHS Office of the Senior Practitioner, 2009-2012 

Bigby, C., Knox; M, Mansell, J, & Beadle-Brown, J. Realising an 'ordinary life' for people with intellectual disabilities: Developing a theoretical framework for group home outcomes. ARC Discovery 2009- 2012

Stancliffe, R., Bigby, C., Balandin, S. Transition to retirement by adults with chronic disabilities: increasing community capacity. ARC Linkage, 2009-2011, 336,000

Carling- Jenkins, R., Icono, T, Torr, J, Bigby, C. Alzheimer’s Disease in people with down syndrome: Developing a model of care. Alzheimers Dementia Research Program. 2009